Hollow-building-block structure.



J. T. RIDGEWAY.

HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCK STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED 0012.13, 1913.

1, 1 1 7,908. Patented Nov. 17,1914.

2 SHEET$-SHEET 1.

J. T. RIDGEWAY,

HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCK STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED OGT413. 1913.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a o n m c UNTT $TA P e EN FFTQE.

JOHN T. RIDGEVTAY, 0F HILLSBOEZO, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE BIDGEWAY SILO COMPANY, OF HILLSBORO, OHIO.

HOLLOW-BUILDING-BLOCK STRUCTURE.

Application filed October 13, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN T. RIDGEWAY; a citizen of the United States, residing at Hillsboro, in the county of Highland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hollow-Building-Block Structures; and I do declare the following to b a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in iollow building block structures and more particularly to blocks for constructing silos. The object of the invention is to provide a strong and durable structure formed of hollow blocks and bars connected by cement, the bars performing the double function of tie bars and reinforcing means for the structure and they also serve to prevent the cement which connects the blocks of the courses from dropping into the blocks.

Another object of the invention is to provide reinforcing tie bars constructed to provide the rungs of a ladder which are arranged across the door opening of the silo.

\Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a portion of a silo embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the door opening in the silo; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the reinforcing tie bars which is employed to form the ladder rungs across the door opening; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through a portion of the silo showing the joints between adjacent blocks; Fig. 5 is a vertical section thereof; Fig. 6 is a perspec tive view of one of the blocks detached; Fig. 7 is a similar view showing two blocks connected in longitudinal alinement and with the reinforcing tie bars disposed in position ready to receive the cement.

While a silo is shown the invention is not necessarily limited thereto although it is of peculiar value in a silo or other structure which is designed to be made air-tight.

In the embodiment illustrated the structure is shown composed of hollow blocks 1 of concrete or other suitable material and tie bars 13 the blocks being arranged as Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1'7, 1914.

Serial No. 795,004.

shown to break joints. The blocks are curved longitudinally to sufiicient extent to suit the curvature of the structure and have an inner wall 3, an outer wall i, an intermediate vertical longitudinally extending wall 5 and a transverse wall 6 arranged intermediately of the ends of said blocks. The block so constructed has four chambers formed by the intersection of the intermediate walls 5 and 6. The end walls of each block are provided on their outer faces with corrugations T, the grooves in the end of one wall being adapted to register with those in the end of an adjacent wall to form between them cement receiving spaces and whereby when the cement is poured between the ends of adjacent blocks it will enter these grooves and form a secure locking member for connecting the blocks. Each block is provided at one end with a tenon 8 and at its other end with a mortise 9, both mortises and tenons being here shown with parallel sides and extending from the top to the bottom of the block and the tenon of one block being arranged to fit loosely in the mortise of another block to provide sul'licient space around it for the reception of the connecting cement as is shown clearly in Fig. 4. The door jamb blocks 10 are provided with offsets 10 at the inner side of the blOCKS and against which oii'sets the door D shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, is adapted to abut, said door being preferably provided with stiles S near its opposite side edges to form an air-tight closure when the door is in op erative position. The top of each block is provided with longitudinally extending channels 11 and 12 formed by cutting away the upper ends of the end members of the block and the transverse partition 6 as is shown clearly in Fig. 7, said channels being of a depth slightly greater than the thickness of the corrugated tie members to be described and which are adapted to be dis posed in said chanenls.

Reinforcing ties bars 13 of a width corresponding to the width between the inner and outer walls of the blocks and the intermediate longitudinally extending partition 5 are adapted to be disposed in the channels 11 and 12 and to rest on the upper ends of the end members of said blocks and the cross bar 6 as shown in Fig. 7. These tie bars are preferably constructed of heavy sheet metal and are corrugated transversely as shown to form reinforcing binding mernbers between the blocks of each row, said bars spanning the joints between the blocks. These bars may be made from a single piece or they may be made in sections and the ends thereof overlapped as shown in Fig. 3, the corrugations in the end of one bar fitting in the corrugations of the other bar in overlapping relation and thus forming a secure lock between the bars which is especially effective when the cement is placed thereon. The portions of the bars which extend across the door opening in the silo are folded or rolled longitudinally to provide rungs let arranged ladder like one above the other to afford access to the top of the silo and to permit door sections at different heights to be opened when de sired. When these reinforcing bars are placed in the channels 11 and 12 they completely fill the space between the vertical longitudinally extending walls of the block and thus prevent any cement or plaster which is placed on the bars from dropping into the blocks.

In building a structure the blocks 1 are placed upon each other like any other concrete blocks or bricks with plaster or cement 15 uniting the joints. For instance, one annular layer of blocks is first arranged in position as shown in Fig. 7 and the reinforcing bars 13 are placed in the channels in the upper faces of the blocks and being arranged with their edges toward the interior of the structure they will be held against expansion and, consequently, no enlargement of the structure will be permit ted thus enabling it to resist any outward thrust or stress arising from the contents of the silo or other structure. Plaster or cement is then placed upon these bars 13 in the channels 11 and 12 and over the upper surface of the walls 3, a and 5. The next layer of blocks. is then superimposed and forced down on the plaster filling disposed on the top of the lower course or row .of blocks which causes said plaster or cement to be forced upwardly into the chambers of the upper row of blocks as shown in Fig. 5 thus forming locking (lGVlCES 16 for holding the blocks against lateral displacement, plaster being placed between the ends of the blocks in this row in a manner similar to that described above and the process is continued until the structure is completed.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that an unusually durable structure can be built in the manner explained and with the blocks formed as set forth any out chambers of the silo blocks and form secure locking members for preventing any outward movement of the blocks at these joints.

It will thus be seen that this structure is substantially as durable and as strong as if the blocks were solid and the structure produced is as substantial as one of solid blocks and yet it is hollow so that the walls will readily dry and will securely shut out all air from the interior of the structure.

When silos are filled with ensilage there is considerable moistuie or water in the same and this moisture in blocks of this type will not be transmitted to or reach the outer half or portion of the blocks so that they remain practically dry and as the ensilage is removed from the silo the blocks will dry quickly because they are hollow.

I claim as my invention:

1. A structure composed of hollow building blocks ha ing transverse connecting webs between the inner and outer walls thereof, said webs having their ends depressed to space them below the edges of the walls of the block and forming seats, tie bars of a width corresponding to the distance between the walls and fitting in the seats of said blocks and closing the ends of the air chambers, and cement disposed on said bars and extending into the blocks above and below the joint to form locking keys which connect the adjacent vertical courses.

2. A structure composed of a plurality of courses of hollow building blocks having a door opening therein, with channels in the blocks on opposite sides of the door open ing, reinforcing tie bars disposed in said channels and connecting the blocks of each course, said bars extending transversely across the door opening, the portions of said bars which span the door opening being rolled to form rigid rungs and the portions disposed in said channels being of a width corresponding to the width of the channels.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN T. RIDGEXVAY. Witnesses:

CHAs. RmcwAY, FRANK A. CoLLINs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

